Process of effecting reduction and producing ferrochromium.



\ E. F. PRICE. PROCESS OF EFFECTING REDUCTION AND PRODUCING FERROGHROMIUM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE ZB, 1907.

Patented June 20 7/ W; i {Z bursa FFEQ EDGAR F. PRICE, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YO RK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESN E ASSIGNMENTS,

TO CENTRAL TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, TRUSTEE, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF EFFECTING REDUCTION AND PRODUCING FERROCHROMIUM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 26, .1907. Serial No. 380,922.

useful Improvements in Processes of Effecting .Reduction and Producing. Ferrochromium, of which the following is a specifiof the metal and slag by removin them succation.

In the production'of ferrochromium from chromite it is customary to introduce a small charge of the-ore, carbon,'and a flux into an electric furnace having sides and a hearth of carbon and to spring an'arc between the hearth and a depending carbon electrode having its lower end embedded in the charge. The potential difierence usually maintained between the terminals of the furnace isone hundred and ten volts. As theore is reduced a layer of the ferrochromium accumulates on the hearth, covered by a layer of slag. The molten alloy is tapped out from time to time until the slag has increased to such an amount as to require removal. As the normal slag has a high fusion point, a flux is added to render it more liquid, and the remaining alloy and slag are finally run out throughthe metal-taphole.

'The furnace is then charged anew and the process is repeated. It is important that the ferrochromiu produced should be low in carbon. The amount of carbon in the charge is therefore kept at a minimum. On account of the low percentage of admixed carbon, however, highly-oxidizing gases are evolved in contact with the depending electrode, which is soon consumed and must be replaced. The airalso acts rapidly on the hot electrode when the furnace is emptied by the removal of slag. Since the charge is a fairly good conductor of electricity, a thin layer only is maintained around the lower end of the de pending electrode to prevent excessive shuntfurnace, under the high applied potential. Much heat is therefore lost by radiation from the zone of reduction through the charge, while the electrode is insufficiently protected from oxidation by'the air. This loss of heat greatly decreases the'reduction.

efliciency'of the furnace.

Furthermoretlie slag 1s not keptat asufiiciently high temperature to permit-itto. be tapped out, ex-

mg of current to the carbon sides of the 1 cept by adding large amounts of flux, discontinuing the charge of ore and employing the energy of the are merely to liquefy the slag. The heat'losses are also increased by the discontinuous mode of working both the furnace and thedepending electrode cooling down when the furnace is empty. It is also impracticable to effect a clean separation cessively through a single tap-ho e.

, According to the present invention the production. of ferrochromium and similar alloys is effected in an incandescence furnace by a continuous operation, the charge being heated to the temperature of reduction by an adjacent resister of molten slag,

interposed between the charge and body of reduced metal and serving to maintain the metal out of contact with the carbon in the Tatented June 20, 1911.

charge. It is thereby possible to produce ferrochromium containlng a small percent-' age of carbon, 7

A suitable furnace is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is-a transverse vertical section, in the plane of the electrodes and at right angles to the tapholes.

The furnace illustrated. comprises side walls 1 and a bottom 2 of suitable refractory material, such as magnesia. fire-brick.

Tap-holes 3, 4 for metal and slag extend through one wall. Electrodes 5, 6 of oppos-ite polarity depend into the furnace. A

body of molten metal 7 occupies the lower.

resister 8 and the excess slag andmetal are removed from time to time through thetapholes, additions being made to the charge as required. The reduced metals thus quickly separate from and are malntai'ned out of contact with the free carbon in the' charge, the resulting alloy therefore being the zone of reduction.

. I claim:

1.. The IBSlStfillCG process of producing ferrochromlum, WhlCh consists in passing an electric current through a'slag-resister adjacent to a charge containing carbon and combined iron and chromium and thereby heating the charge to the temperature of reduction, and separating and maintaining the resulting alloy out 'of contact with the carbon in the charge. 7

2. The resistance process of producing ferrochromium, which consists in passing an electric current through a slag-resistor adjacent to a charge containing .carbon and combined iron and chromium and thereby heating the charge to the temperature of reduction, and separating and maintaining the resulting alloy out of contact with the carbon in the charge by an intermediate layer of slag. a

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

EDGAR F. PRICE.

Witnesses:

EUGENE A. Brianne, DEAN BURcEss. 

